Madden execs depart to join new Florida studio

Philip Holt’s new Row Sham Bow studio has added some high-level Madden talent.

Madden 12 creative director Ian Cummings recently announced that he would be leaving EA – Friday was his final day with EA Tiburon – and he already seems to have another gig.

“After nearly 11 years with Electronic Arts, I have decided to seek opportunities elsewhere,” wrote Cummings on the official Madden blog. “My time at EA has been an incredible ride.”

As it turns out, those “opportunities” are with Row Sham Bow, a new start-up studio that will create 60 “high-wage” jobs and focus on social gaming. The new development house was founded by former EA Tiburon GM Philip Holt and is located close the Tiburon studio in Winter Park, Fla.

EA Sports chief technology officer Richard Wifall will be joining Cummings at Row Sham Bow. On Saturday, Wifall tweeted, “My last day with Tiburon and EA Sports was yesterday. End of an era. So excited to be doing the startup thing.” He then confirmed that he would be following Cummings and Holt “and some other talented individuals” to Row Sham Bow, adding that “we aren’t ready to talk about our plans just yet.”

Source: Joystiq